Winnipeg students design tribute to Tina Fontaine

Trinity Harry never knew Tina Fontaine but the teen’s life and death weighs heavily on the R.B. Russell High School student.

“It could have been anyone.  It could have been me, it could have been my sisters,” Trinity Harry said.

The 15-year-old’s body, wrapped in a duvet and weighed down with rocks, was pulled from the Red River in the summer of 2014.

READ: Raymond Cormier found not guilty in death of Tina Fontaine

Raymond Cormier was acquitted of second-degree murder last month.

Last month the Grade 11 student was outside waiting for a bus, when she ran into her welding teacher and explained her fear of being alone as a young indigenous woman.

“She was quite nervous about it, and I asked her why and she said she didn’t have a weapon for protection to walk around in the North End.  Which you know, came as a bit of surprise,” R.B.Russell teacher Mike Johnston said.

“It’s really kind of scary walking around, especially as a young indigenous girl,” Harry explained.

The following Monday, her teacher approached Harry and asked if she and her classmates wanted to turn that fear into something positive.

Over several days Harry and fellow student Joseph Ginter worked with the teacher to turn plain pieces of metal, into a four foot tall rose.  At its center is the name “Tina”, and on its leaves, again her name.

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“We want people to remember her, what happened to her, and to not forget about it,” Ginter said.

They also hope it serves another purpose about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and the fear many feel.

“People should be aware this is happening and it isn’t right,” Harry said.

They’re proud of the end result and have reached out to family to ask what they would like them to do with the art.